Cylinder head gasket with integrated sensor

Abstract

A multilayer metal gasket for an internal combustion engine having an integrated sensor or sensors, such as a pressure sensor. The sensor is located within a combustion cylinder opening in the gasket. Preferably, a sensor is located within each combustion cylinder opening of the gasket. The gasket may also include an integrated sensor signal conditioning module. The gasket is made by a method which includes forming the necessary sensor housings and signal line channels within the spacing layers of the gasket.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Technical Field [0002] This invention is generally related to head gaskets for internal combustion engines. More particularly, the invention relates to multilayer metal head gaskets for internal combustion engines having an integrated sensor, such as a pressure sensor. [0003] 2. Related Art [0004] In order to improve the control of an internal combustion engine, it is desirable to closely monitor the combustion process within the engine. It is most desirable to monitor the combustion process occurring within each of the cylinders of the engine (i.e., combustion pressure, temperature, etc.); however, it has not thus far been cost effective to incorporate such sensors, particularly combustion pressure sensors, into each of the cylinders, because of the machining required to incorporate the sensors into the cylinder block or cylinder head and the cost and packaging issues associated with multiple sensors, wiring harnesses, connectors and other item...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The present invention is particularly advantageous in that the sensor is integrated into a multilayer metal gasket of conventional construction. It is a further advantage that the sensor is directly exposed to the combustion processes occurring in the cylinder, particularly as compared to related art designs which did not directly expose the sensor to the cylinder and the associated combustion processes occurring therein. It is also an advantage of the present invention that the sensor and sensor signal lines may be incorporated without the need for utilizing additional specialized layers within the gasket to either house the sensor or rout the signal lines associated with the sensor. It is still further an advantage of the present invention to integrate not only the sensor and signal lines within the gasket, but also to integrate a signal processing or conditioning module associated with the same.

[0014] Accordingly, the present invention also includes methods of making multilayer metal gaskets for an internal combustion engine of the types described above. It is also an advantage of the present invention that the methods utilized to make multilayer metal gaskets having integrated sensors and signal lines incorporated therein generally utilize, with relatively minor adaptations, processes and equipment which are currently used for making multilayer metal gaskets of conventional construction.

Problems solved by technology

It is most desirable to monitor the combustion process occurring within each of the cylinders of the engine (i.e., combustion pressure, temperature, etc.); however, it has not thus far been cost effective to incorporate such sensors, particularly combustion pressure sensors, into each of the cylinders, because of the machining required to incorporate the sensors into the cylinder block or cylinder head and the cost and packaging issues associated with multiple sensors, wiring harnesses, connectors and other items necessary to integrate such sensors.

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